Chen'er was taken aback.

"Huayang...why do you think that way?"

Hua Yang's eyes reddened. "Everyone says that I have a mischievous and unruly personality, which is not the quality a qualified princess should have. I should be more dignified and generous, instead of being so lively and willful as I am now."

"If I get married in the future, I will inevitably be disliked by my husband's family because of my personality."

"Does your brother, like those others, believe that Huayang should restrain her personality and become a princess that pleases everyone?"

Chen'er immediately understood that Hua Yang's experience was the same as her own when she was young.

There will always be some petty people who gossip behind people's backs.

It was originally him, but now they're talking about Huayang.

Seeing Hua Yang's eyes redden, Chen'er's tone softened even more.

"My mother once said that being born into an imperial family means having many things beyond one's control, but she hoped that we could follow our hearts in everything we did and not be swayed by the words of others."

“Brother, what you just said was inappropriate. Huayang is the most noble princess. Whether she is dignified or lively, she is a princess of Dajiang and my most beloved sister.”

The tears in Huayang's eyes gradually receded, and she asked timidly:

"What if...in the future, Father and Mother choose a husband for Huayang that Huayang doesn't like, and Huayang doesn't want to marry him? Will my brother stand by my side?"

Chen'er immediately said:

"Father and Mother wouldn't do that, and Brother wouldn't just stand by and watch Huayang marry someone she doesn't like. Huayang, why are you asking this all of a sudden? It sounds like you're really resistant to getting married."

Hua Yang did not deny it: "I don't like it because men have to marry many wives. Even though Father Emperor loved Mother Empress, he still had many concubines in his harem."

“Even my maternal grandfather had a concubine. If I had to share my husband with someone else, I would rather not marry.”

"Don't you think so, brother?"

"Or is it that my brother is also planning to marry many women in the future?"

Chen'er almost instinctively denied it immediately, "Of course not!"

He imagined his father and mother as a harmonious and loving couple.

He simply couldn't imagine what it would be like to have another woman between his father and mother.

"Furthermore, Huayang, you may have misunderstood Father. After all, my maternal grandfather and aunt's affair happened many years ago, so I don't know the details, but I am very clear about Father's affairs."

"As far back as I can remember, my father has never spent the night in any of his concubines' palaces."

"I have also seen the memorials submitted by the ministers, many of which suggested that Father Emperor hold another imperial concubine selection, but Father Emperor refused them all."

"My grandmother said that many of the concubines in the harem were brought into the Crown Prince's residence when my father was the Crown Prince."

"Some of them entered the palace later during the imperial selection process. As the emperor, he had no choice but to accept them."

"But after Father Emperor fell in love with Mother Empress, he never had any involvement with any other concubines again."

"Father cannot let those concubines leave the palace, because many of them are noble women with famous names. Once they leave the palace, they will inevitably be ridiculed."

"Father could only provide them with a luxurious life in the palace, allowing them to spend the rest of their lives in peace."

"It is precisely because the Empress Dowager knew these things that she never inquired about the affairs of those concubines. This does not mean that the Empress Dowager was sharing the Emperor with other women."

"The Empress Dowager's love for the Emperor was subtle yet profound."

Hua Yang listened attentively, without losing focus for a moment.

She asked expectantly:

"Brother, does this mean that you will marry only one woman in the future, just like Father Emperor loved Mother alone?"

Chen'er nodded, "Of course. If possible, I hope that all men in the world would love only one woman, just like Father Emperor."

Hua Yang suddenly slapped his brother's shoulder hard, causing Chen'er to stumble.

Hua Yang, his expression filled with affirmation and approval for Chen'er, said:

“Good brother, with your words, Huayang is at ease. Compared to getting married, Huayang feels there are more interesting things to do. Today, I can finally share my secret with you.”

Chen'er looked at her with a face full of questions: "A secret? Huayang has been keeping a secret from me all this time?"

When he was little, Huayang always kissed and hugged him, and even shared a beautiful butterfly she found in the palace with him. Little did she know that he would have a secret now.

Hua Yang put his arm around his and said:

"Isn't it because I'm worried that my brother will scold me for not doing my job properly? You have to keep this a secret for me, even Father and Mother don't know about it."

Hua Yang pulled him around, and they sneaked into the room. Then, Hua Yang pulled a reddish-brown wooden box out from under the bed with great effort.

After the wooden box appeared, Hua Yang stood up and let out a breath.

"Brother, look!"

The wooden box was enormous; when it stood upright, it was almost as tall as Huayang.

Hua Yang opened the wooden box, inside which was a huge crossbow.

Chen'er's eyes lit up; she was incredulous at the sight of the giant crossbow.

"This is......"

Hua Yang said proudly, "Brother, this should look familiar, right? It was made according to your blueprints. Although there are still some imperfections, the major parts are definitely fine."

"I secretly tested it the other day. The range is about 500 paces and it can penetrate an entire elm tree!"

"Moreover, the inner compartment can hold ten arrows."

"In other words, if a powerful enemy attacks our Great Jiang, with these bows and crossbows, we can wipe out the enemy army without leaving a single piece of armor outside the city."

Chen'er squatted down and gently stroked every inch of the crossbow with her hands, her voice trembling.

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